Chadol baegi is the Korean BBQ classic of paper-thin, marble-veined beef brisket cooked in seconds over a screaming-hot grill and wrapped in lettuce with dipping sauces. The beef itself has almost no seasoning, letting the rich beefiness shine alongside sesame-oil salt dip and ssamjang. It is meant to be interactive, communal, and eaten hot off the grate.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (estimated)
- 540 kcalCalories
- 38 gFat
- 12 gSaturated Fat
- 18 gCarbs
- 3 gFiber
- 5 gSugar
- 32 gProtein
- 720 mgSodium
- 610 mgPotassium
- 85 mgCalcium
- 3.5 mgIron
- 9 mgVitamin C
- 180 mcgVitamin A
Ingredients
For the brisket
- 1.5 lb beef brisket point, partially frozen for slicing
- 1 tbsp neutral oil, for the grill
- 1 medium onion, sliced into 1/2-inch half-moons
- 4 oz king oyster mushrooms, sliced lengthwise
- 8 cloves garlic, smashed
For the sesame-salt dip
- 1/4 cup toasted sesame oil
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp coarsely cracked black pepper
For the ssamjang dipping sauce
- 2 tbsp doenjang (Korean soybean paste)
- 1 tbsp gochujang (Korean red pepper paste)
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 clove garlic, finely grated
- 1 tsp rice syrup or sugar
- 1 scallion, finely chopped
To serve
- 1 head red leaf or butter lettuce, leaves separated and washed
- 2 cups steamed short-grain rice
- 1 cup kimchi, for wrapping
Directions
- Wrap the brisket tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for 45 to 60 minutes until firm but not solid; this makes paper-thin slicing possible. Slice across the grain into 1/16-inch-thick slices, laying each on a tray without overlapping.
- Make the sesame-salt dip by stirring together sesame oil, salt, and cracked pepper in a small bowl. Make the ssamjang by combining doenjang, gochujang, sesame oil, grated garlic, rice syrup, and scallion until smooth; set both sauces aside.
- Prepare a tabletop grill, cast-iron pan, or heavy skillet over high heat until very hot, about 5 minutes. Brush the cooking surface lightly with neutral oil.
- Lay brisket slices flat on the hot grill in a single layer, working in batches to avoid crowding. Cook 30 to 45 seconds per side, just until edges curl and the meat turns from red to brown; do not overcook.
- After the first batch, push meat to a cooler spot and add a layer of onion slices and mushrooms alongside more brisket, grilling 1 to 2 minutes until onions char at the edges and mushrooms are tender.
- Transfer cooked brisket and vegetables to a warm platter and repeat with remaining slices, keeping the grill between batches.
- To eat, place a brisket slice on a lettuce leaf with a piece of grilled onion or kimchi, drizzle with the sesame-salt dip or a dab of ssamjang, and wrap into a bundle. Eat alongside bites of steamed rice.
- Repeat until all the meat is gone, dipping and wrapping as you go; the meal is finished when only lettuce and sauces remain.
Cook’s Notes
- Partially freezing the brisket is non-negotiable for clean paper-thin slices; ask your butcher to do this if you do not have a sharp slicer.
- A screaming-hot surface is essential – if the meat sizzles aggressively the moment it touches the grill, the temperature is right.
- Eat brisket straight off the grill; it toughens and loses its buttery texture if it sits more than a minute.
- Save any leftover unmarinated raw slices for next-day bulgogi or a quick fried rice by stirring into hot rice with soy sauce and sesame oil.
- Always use toasted sesame oil for the dips, not raw oil; the nutty aroma is what carries the dish.










